POLYPODIUM. 



129 



P. (Goniopteris) diversifolium — Go-m-op'-ter-is ; di-ver-sif-ol'-i-um 

 (various-leaved), Swartz. 

 This stove species, native of Brazil, Caraccas, and Ecuador, must not be 

 confounded with P. diversifolium of R. Brown, which is only a synonym of 

 P. rigidulum. Its simply -pinnate fronds, 1ft. to 2ft. long, Gin. to 9in. broad, 

 and borne on tufted, slender, naked stalks Ift. to 2ft. long, are furnished with 



Fi^. 39. Pinna of Polypodium diversifolium 

 (nat. size). 



long, narrow leaflets seldom more than lin. broad, with the edge nearly entire 

 or slightly undulated. They are of a somewhat leathery texture, very prettily 

 veined, and their sori (spore masses) are disposed in a row on each side of and 

 close to the midrib (Fig. 39). — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 4. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 189. 



P. (Phegopteris) drepanum — Phe-gop'-ter-is ; drep'-an-um (sickle- 

 like). Hooker. 

 A very handsome, greenhouse 

 species, native of Madeira, with fronds 

 l^ft. to 3ft. long. Sin. to 12in. broad, 

 produced from a short, upright stem, 

 and borne on tufted stalks, which are 

 Ift. to IJft. long and densely clothed 

 with dark-coloured scales at their 

 base. The lowest leaflets, which are 

 also the largest, often measure Sin. in 

 length and 3in. in breadth ; the leafits 

 are spear-shaped, unequal-sided, con- 

 spicuously eared on the upper side, and truncate (maimed) on the lower side 

 at the base, with a broad, uncut centre and numerous teeth. The fronds 

 are of a leathery texture, with both sides nearly naked. The very prominent 



VOL. III. ^ 



Fig. 40. 



Portion of Pinna of Poiypodium drepanum 



(nafc. size). 



